Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 2, 1942)

Vol. 8, No. 27.

VOICE of the

CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE

TORONTO, JULY 2ND, 1942

INDUSTRY

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$2.00 Per Annum

Ontario Censor's
Annual Report —

The Province of Ontario last
year passed 1,976 of 2,084 films
checked on, altered 103 and reject-
ed two British and one USA pic-
tures, the annual roport of O. J.
Silverthorne, Censor chief, reveal-
ed. Mr. Silverthorne, chairman of
the Motion Picture Censorship and

(Continued on Tage 5)

Trenton House
In Legal Tangle

By virtue of a decision handed
down by the Appelate Court of
Ontario at Osgoode Hall, Toronto,
Trent Theatres Limited, a Famous
Players subsidiary, was ordered to
deliver possession of the Trent
Theatre, Trenton, Ontario, to the

(Continued on Page 3)

New York Wants
Loew's London House

The latest development in the
dispute between shareholders and
the board of directors over the
sale of Loew’s London Theatres
Limited, London, Ontario, is an
offer from Loew’s in New York of
$250,000. A meeting of sharehold-
ers will discuss it.

A previous offer of $250,000 had
been received and the fact that
the board of directors favored the
offer, which is subject to share-
holders approval, brought an in-
junction from certain of those
interested.

Garden Closed

The Garden Theatre, College
street, Toronto, recently leased
from Joe Cohen by Norman Rit-
tenberg, has been closed for altera-
tions. The house has had its ups
and down of late. It wasa B&F
house for years and was latterly
handled by 20th Century Theatres.

GOODMAN HONORED

WITH BANQUET

Rotary Convention Seene of
Theatre Men’s Craft Session

Toronto was the scene of
ors from many points in the

an informal session of exhibit-
USA last week. The theatre

men were in the Queen City to attend the 33rd dnnual con-
vention of the Rotary International, the world renowned

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Maybe He Was
e oe
Just Kidding

Hal S. Orr of Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, vice-chairman
fo the Recreation and Amuse-
ment Assembly at the Rotary
convention in Toronto, who is
with the Wilby-Kincey chain of
over 100 USA theatres, got off
some gentle joshing at the dis-
tribs.

‘“‘We're here to discuss theatre
problems,” he said, “such as
film buying.” Then he be-
thought himself of the possi-
bility of distrib men being pres-
ent. “Of course,’ he said with
his tongue in cheek, “none of
us ever have any film buying
problems.” And as a put-on
afterthought: “I hope there
are no exchange men here.”

There weren't. So we thought
we'd tell them about it.

No Tax Jump
For Movie Admissions

Mindful of the value of motion
pictures in wartime, the new bud-
get did not raise the admission
tax from 20 per cent. to 30, as
rumor had it. This was a wise
move, since no doubt the need for
greater personal thrift will cause
many to see fewer shows.

The new tax on cabarets an
dance halls was overdue. That may
favor theatres slightly. Bingo,
however, seems to have been over-
looked. The general effect of the
new budget on theatre patronage
is hard to judge now. Certainly
the government showed considera-
tion for the popular favor the
movies enjoy.

service organization. They
came together to discuss com-
mon problems under the con-
vention plan ‘of Vocational
Craft Assemblies. As part of
the Recreation and Amuse-
ment section, they outnumbered by
many the delegates of other recre-
ational fields, such as _ fairs,
amusement parks, bowling and
billiard academies. As a result,
most of the discussion dealt with
film matters.
With George S. Patterson of
the Toronto body acting as host,
(Continued on Page 2) :

Rackow Joins PRC

Victor Rackow, former branch
manager for United Artists at
Winnipeg, who was transferred to
Toronto, has joined Producers Re-
leasing Corporation’ and will re-

USA Exhibs in Toronto Confab

Ted Marks
S ° oO e.

aid Missing

Pilot Officer Edward M. Marks,
former manager of the Marks
Theatre, Oshawa, Ontario, was re-
ported as missing during an opera-
tional flight over enemy territory
recently. Word to this effect was
received by his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ernie Marks, at their home
at 389 Simcoe street, Oshawa.

Ted took part in the day-

light raids over the French coast
(Continued on Page 2)

Three Cass Boys
Are Branch Managers

The news of the promotion of
Garfield Cass as branch manager
of Regal in Toronto was well re-
ceived, since Gary is a popular
hereabouts.

That makes three branch man-
agers in the family. Brother Hilly
is Regal branch manager in Mont-
real and Abe Cass is Columbia
branch manager ‘in Toronto. Here’s

turn to handle the Winnipeg office.'a real film family.

Border Freeze Cuts Yearly
Take of USA House by $75,000

Harris Lumberg, with the Shea’s
circuit of New York state and
manager of a theatre in Niagara
Falls, New York, told an interest-
ing result of the border closing at
the Récreation and Amusement
Assembly of Rotarians. Before
free traffic across the frontier was
stopped his house used to take in
about $75,000 of Canadian money
annually from people who came
over to see Sunday shows.

An amusing and instructive talk
was given by Elias Berenson, ex-
hibitor from Bogalusa, Indiana,
who revealed that he got into
the business on a challenge, he
being in dry goods at the time. He
made good, too. Mr. Berenson gave

the boys a valuable tip about pro-
jection booths. In his theatres the
booths have a gutter running
against each wall and a single
drain. In case some film catches
fire the water used to douse it
just runs out instead of leaving
the problem of cleaning up and
drying out.

A Rotarian who dropped into the
sessions because of a special in-
terest in moving pictures was
George Panter of Gravenhurst,
Ontario. Mr. Panter, though not a
film man, is prominent in the or-
ganization of special shows for
children, the cost of which is
borne by his club as a public

(Continued on Page 3)

Del Goodman, former chief of faramount in Canada, was honored with a testimon-
jal dinner by Famous Players at the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, on Friday, June 26th.

A considerable number of film folk gathered to toast Del, who goes back to New York.

Vol. 8, No. 26

zekly

Address all communications—The Managing Editor,
Canadian: Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada.

Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 5th Floor,
Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310, Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year.

A Nice Fellow

Ladies and gentleman of the Canadian motion picture
industry, we give you Mike Bouckley.

Mike Bouckley, whose initials are A. L., is a quiet but
observant little man who runs a billiard academy in Osh-
awa, Ontario, where everyone knows and likes him. He
is a man who believes that what's right is right, handsome
is as handsome does, and credit where credit is due.

A Rotarian, Mike vras present at the Recreations and
Amusement Assembly of his fellows at the 33rd annual
convention in Toronto. Ninety-five per cent of the dele-
gates were theatre men. The talk was all of theatres.
Theatre men from all parts of the USA were present but
not one from Canada. The boys were discussing war
effort by theatres. This writer itched to tell them about
Canada but he wasn’t a Rotarian and was present to
report things.

After a while of listening Mike Bouckley took the
floor, explained that he wasn’t a theatre man but that he
felt it his duty to tell about what Canadian theatres had
done and are doing. For ten or 15 minutes Mr. Bouckley
opened their eyes about us. “I want to pay them a
tribute,” he said. “I have never seen anything like it.”

It was swell of Mike and we owe him a vote of

thanks.

Curiosity About Canada

So great was the curiosity about the Canadian motion
picture industry and so many were the questions asked
that Jim Shanklin, the chairman and a director of the
MPTOA, called upon a Film Weekly reporter to answer as
many as he could. He faced a half-hour quizzing. Some
of the questions:

Are admissions and rentals frozen in Canada and if so,
how is it working out?

What are the relations of the industry with the govern-
ment and what system is used to work together?

Is it true that Quebec won't allow juvenile admissions
and why?

How about priorities here?

What about relations with the projectionists union?

It's too bad no industry representative was present as
a mark of good-will to tell the USA cousins what they
wanted to know.

* os *

Thanks, Mr. Lash

Mr. G. Herbert Lash, director of public information for

Canada, gave the Canadian industry some hearty pats on .

the back in his speech to the audience at the private
screening of “Mrs. Miniver”’ in Ottawa.

Said Mr. Lash:

“On your behalf I should like to thank Metro Goldwyn
Mayer and the Management of this theatre for making this
event possible tonight. I should like also to take advan-
tage of this opportunity to pay public tribute to the motion
picture distributors and exhibitirs of Canada for their
constant generous contribution to the Canadian War Effort.
They have never failed to respond willingly to any reason-
able request and for the many services they have perform-
ed they have never asked or received a cent although
many of these services have reduced the volumn of their

21 Dundas Square,

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

Vol. 6, No. 26 July #nd, 19827 ad Marks \

Ae a ean, Se ae
HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor

Said Missing

\ (Continued from Page 1)
and his friends and parents are
hoping that he came down on
land. It may be some time before
definite word arrives reporting
whether or not he landed alive or
is, perhaps, a prisoner of war.

A member of one of the most
famous theatre families in the
Dominion, Ted was extremely pop-
ular in the business and amongst
Oshawans.

Pilot Officer Marks was born in
Brockville 27 years ago. He came
to Oshawa with his parents when
a lad of seven and attended St.
Gregory’s R.C. Separate School and
Oshawa Collegiate. He enlisted in
and the RCAF September, 1940,
and received his wings at Jarvis.
He went overseas in March of last
year as Sergeant-Gunner. In this
capacity he served as rear gunner
in the large bombers and saw a
great deal of action in raids over
Germany and the occupied coun-
tries of Europe.

Ted Marks has two brothers
and one sister. The brothers are
Jack, who is with the Canadian
Army overseas, and Ernest, Jr.,
with the law firm of Conant and
Annis, Oshawa, and Mrs. Frank
McGarry, a Sister.

12.05's Ban On

In Hamilton

Copy of the by-law prohibiting
the staging of midnight theatre
performances in Hamilton, Ont.,
on Sundays, except when the Sun-
day precedes a holiday, was re-
ceived last week by Thomas A.
Brown, chief constable, in order
that he might give the officers in-
structions regarding the mew rul-
ing. The by-law necessitates some
changes in patrol duty, as officers
were assigneq to duty at theatres
for specified times when owl shows
were allowed, and it will now be
unnecessary for these officers to
cover that part of their beat so
thoroughly.

income. Their unselfish contri-
bution to the cause is an ex-
ample to all of us.

“Of the picture you are
about to see I shall say noth-
ing. You will be able to judge
its beauty, its power and its
purpose for yourselves. But I
hope it will give to you, as it
has given to me, a deeper un-
derstanding of the things for
which we are fighting and a
sterner determination to keep
on fighting until we have won
this war. In this dark hour of
our history we shall need all
our determination and our
courage.”

July 2nd, 1942

USA Exhibs in
Toronto Confab

(Continued from Page 1)
chairman James C. Shanklin
Ronceverte, West Virginia, ope
the meeting, which took place in
the RCA Studios atop the Royal
York Hotel. Mr. Shanklin, a direc-
tor of the Motion Picture Theatre
Owners’ Association and assistant
to the president of the West Vir-
ginia Managers’ Association, be-
gan the confab with a discussicn
of war effort in his part of the
country.

Such current film questions as
booking and buying, power re-
strictions, population § shrinkage,
war effort, labor problems, army
shows, priorities and conservation
received a thorough going-over.

A disappointment to the Am-
erican film men was the absence
of any Canadian member or rep-
resentative to answer the general
curiosity about Canada’s motion
picture industry, particularly in
wartime. Any number of Ameri-
can executives have visited here
in the past to study the state of
things and the delegates showed
the same keen interest.

In the absence of a Canadian
film man with Rotary membership
Mr. Shanklin invited the editor &
Canadian Film Weekly, there in a
reportorial capacity, to answer
questions. This he did to the best
of his ability for a considerable
time. The questions dealt with the
application and result of freezing
regulations, the Canadian method
of booking, censorship, war effort,
restrictions on juvenile admissions
and all the problems that face
film men everywhere.

Shanklin praised Ed Kuyken-
dall, president of the MPTOA, and
the new Unity Plan, being readied
in the USA to replace the recent
“Blocks of Five’ scheme. The
Unity Plan deals with blocks of
twelve and allows cancellations on
some of the seven unscreened films.
“I thing the Unity Plan is a grand
thing and will eventually turn into
something better,’’ he said.

Fred A. Beedle of Canonsburg-
Houston, Pennsylvania, a national
director of the Allied States Asso-
ciation of Motion Picture Exhibi-
tors, endorsed Shanklin’s_ senti-
ments, as did other delegates.

Hal S. Orr of Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, revealed that Sun-
day midnight war effort shows are
as great a problem in his pa
of the United States as they ar
in Canada.

During the evening the dele-
gates retunned to the RCA Stu-
dios for a social gathering. They
expressed themselves as much im-
pressed by what they have seen
in Canada from a war effort as
well as theatre standpoint.

July 2nd, 1942.

Trenton House
In Legal Tangle

(Continued from Page 1)

@&®> 2110 company, Trenton Amuse-

ment Company Limited.

The court upeld the decision of
His Honor Judge Reynolds of Belle-
ville, delivered on May 30th. The
lease held by Trent Theatres Lim-
ited had expired and that com-
pany contended that under order
108 of the Wartime Prices and
Trade Board it was entitled to re-
main in possession of the premis-
es. It is understood that a lease
held by a rival circuit, which en-
titled it to take possession upon
the expiration of the one held by
the tenant, has come into effect.
The Trent became an Odeon house
on June 22nd.

The appeal was dismissed with
costs. A motion questioning the
jurisdiction of the court in the
case was abandoned without costs
to either party.

J. Earl Lawson, K.C. acted for
the landlord and J. M. Bullen, K.C.
for the tenant.

Movie Patrons
Are Realistic

Recent checkups on patron pre-
erence in the matter of movies
show that the public has a power-
ful curiosity about the war and
wants the motion picture industry
to help satisfy it. Right now 40
per cent. of films in the making
have to do with the great struggle
for freedom. Much has been made
about escapist stuff. It does have
a strong market but the folks want
to lose themselves in the spirit of
the struggle oftener than they
want to escape it—or that’s how it
appears.

A breakdown of the production
figures reveals the following facts:
28 of the 76 films now shooting
are listed as war pictures. The
field of comedy, a not so close sec-
ond, is represented by 15 films,
followed by melodrama with 12
productions. Eleven musicals, sev-
en Westerns and three biographic-
al features complete the list.

20th Century-Fox with its five
war flickers sets the pace. MGM,
Paramount, RKO, and Warner
Brothers each have four coming
up. Columbia, Monogram, and
Univergal have a pair. Republic
has one.

Some of the topics treated are

evealed by the titles; ‘Berlin
Lith GP 20000204 “China Girl,” ‘‘Lit-

ale Tokyo, U.S.A.” “Wake Island,”

and “The Watch on the Rhine.”

There is no sign of abatement
as far as this trend is concerned
because single lines of dialogue
with war reference, tossed into
pictures on other themes, have
been stealing the show at test
screenings.

~

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

with Hye Square
PLES 6 ge in

The Not-So-Ancient Mariner

The not-so-Ancient Mariner is a theatre manager this time,
manager Harry Black of the Capitol Theatre, Penticton. The
Ancient Mariner of poetry has always appealed to theatre men

because “he passeth one in three.”
better than that.

Harry Black can now qualify as an admiral in the Famous
Players navy, with Mel Stackhouse as his first mate, and son
Larry Black next in command.;

A marine manager knows

A flood put Penticton under, water. Though the boys sand-
bagged the exits the water broke through and eventually rose to
three feet in front of the stage. Black and Stackhouse began
moving everything possible to the higher levels of the house.

The water reached ten feet in the cellar and the boys worked
day and night, putting in 14 hours without food, moving the seats,
equipment, etc. A great deal of the time they were moving
things up the aisle in a rowboat!

After 52 hours the boys were able to go home.
later the shows were resumed. —

Three days

The boys, doing the same stint at the Empress Theatre, were
able to save their company much money by devotion to duty
and hard work. '

* * *

Changeovers

It’s said that the Goldhar boys had convinced the Franklin
brothers ‘to lease them the old Colonial Theatre, opposite the
City Hall. The theatre, sought after for years, was held tight
by the owners, who closed it when sound came in. However, it
seems that war regulations prevented the boys from going ahead.
. .- One of the nicest fellows On the Square is Charlie Cashman,
Photo-Engravers’ envoy to the trade. Always ready to get a
fellow over the hurdle—and always with a smile .. . Flowers are
blooming again on the traffic island in the heart of The Square.
. .. There’s a story around about the burlesque queen who took
a job as a waitress. A-customer cracked, “What’s cookin’, good-
lookin’’”’ Answered the gal: “Bacon. Wanna strip?” ... And
here’s the millionth version of it: ‘Who was that oboe I saw
you with last night?” Answer: “That was no oboe, that was my
fife.’

n us =

Takeups

The youngster who fooled around the shoeshine parlor in
the Hermant Building for a couple of weeks was Bruce Allen,
son of Saul. Young Bruce liked the place and daddy let him
hang around. So the lad donned an apron and took on the odd
job. Saul would slip the boys dimes to turn over their unpolished
footgear to junior. Bruce is a bright boy who quickly became
popular with patrons, though few knew who he was. Self-reliant
young man, he . . Mary Axler, with Paramount for a long
time, has dropped out to take up housewifely duties . . . Annette
Ross, ex-Imperial cashier, is about to become a bride. Cheer up,
boys. Frank Goldhar will be lost to the bachelors soon.
He marries a young lady from Detroit next month, thus striking
a solid blow for USA-Canadian relations.

& cs *

Flickers

Curly Posen, Casino conductor, returns to the pit this week
after being out of action since Christmas, when he slipped on
the stairs and cracked a gam. Archie Stone has been waving
the wood in the meantime. Archie, incidentally, is a projectionist
par excellence, having hit almost 100 per cent. in his government
examinations recently . .. Empire and Regal united to win a
close game from another hybrid team, Broadway Aces and Ken-
woods, by a score of 8 to 7. Sounds like there was more ball than
laughs ... The games at the Maple Leaf stadium are caught
regularly by film folk.

Page 3

(Border Freeze

Costs $75,000

(Continued from Page 1)
service.

Here are the names of some of
the theatre men in Toronto for
the 33rd convention of the Rotary
International who were present at
the Recreation and Amusement
Assembly:

Jim Shanklin,
Virginia.

Hal S. Orr, Rocky Mount, N.
Carolina.

Dale S. Danielson, Russell, Kan-
sas.

John A. Becker, Independence,
Missouri.

Elias Berenson, Bogalusa, Loui-
siana.

S. H. Fangman, Boone, Iowa.

Harris Lumberg, Niagara Falls,
New York.

Hal J. Lyon, Franklin, Virginia.

Fred A. Beedle, Canonsburg-
Houston, Pennsylvania.

Ronceverte, W.

Clarence C. Walker, Quincy,
Florida.

Phillip Kalikman, Gloucester,
New Jersey.

H. N. Miles, Eminence, Ken-
tucky.

Film Executive —
Stays in Jail

Judge Grover M. Moscowitz de-
nied an application for probation
for Joseph H. Moskowitz, eastern
representative of 20th-Century
Fox Film Corporation, and ruled
that he must go to penitentiary
for a year and a day for income
tax evasion.

Moskowitz and Joseph M.
Schenck, former chairman of 20th-
Century-Fox, were convicted early
in 1941 of evading payments of
Schenck’s income tax.

Schenck is serving a sentence
of a year and a day imposed last
month when he pleaded guilty to
a perjury charge.

Now

AS FOR THE
PAST 30 YEARS

For Satisfaction
In Theatre
Equipment

Pp

COMPANY LIMITED
Soe 2037 GLBuRY cTRasT

Page 4

Canadian

~~...

20th Century-Fox

THE MAGNIFICENT DOPE

Payoff: A screamy farce, funny as all get-out because of
Henry Fonda’s great characterization of a small town sap
slicked up by city fellers. Don Ameche, Lynn Bari and Edward
Everett Horton have come-on value.

What Goes On: Fonda is the ad answerer who win a go-
get-’em contest sponsored by a phoney personality school headed
by Ameche. All he wants is the prize money, not the course
by which they hope to induce enrollments through their over-
hauling of Henry. Lynn Bari, the school’s press agent, has the
job of intriguing Fonda into staying. She does, business is big
and love blooms, Fonda eventually winning her from sweetheart
Ameche,

Size-up: A far-fetched but human comedy that generates a
Steady flow of laughter of all degrees.

FILM WEEKLY

July 2nd, 1942

eo

Payoff: A swell Western with enough shootin’ to strain a
defence program. It has plenty of everything for the followers
of the Wild West boys. The love story is secondary in this saga
of saddles, horses and guns.

What Goes On: Richard Dix plays Wyatt Earp, historically
famed eraser of outlaws. Retired, he takes on the job of clean-
ing up Tombstone when a boy is accidentally killed during a
shooting affray. He also stnaightens out the love affair of Don
Castle and Frances Gifford, Don wavering between crime and
law.

Sizeup: Edgar Buchanan, as a bland-faced somewhat likeable
badman, puts on an excellent show. Young Don Castle is per-
sonable and shapes up like star stuff. Such good players as Clem
Bevans, Victor Jory, Rex Bell and Chris Pin Martin add much

Paramount

TOMBSTONE

Universal
PRIVATE BUCKAROOS

Payoff: A lively musical of the type turned out regularly
by this studio. This one has some spots with more production
than seen in the previous efforts.

What Goes On: Story is nil but isn’t missed much, what
with 16 musical numbers and a number of well-known attrac-
tions. Dick Foran is a swell-headed soldier who gets straight-
ened out.

Sizeup: Nice thing, all right. The Andrews Sisters, Harry
James and His Band, Joe E. Lewis, Jennifer Holt, Shemp How-
ard, Richard Davies, Mary Wickes and Ernest Truex.

Vitagraph
ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Payoff: Probably the best pre-Pearl Harbour story to date.
Filmed in sepia, it offers the cast that ran ‘Maltese Falcon”
into the big money overnight. Though not as fast-moving as
“Falcon” it has much more action. Humphrey Bogart, Mary
Astor, Sydney Greenstreet and direction by John Huston is what
should bring back the patrons who saw them together before.

What Goes On: Humphrey Bogart is a renegade army officer
much of the footage who plays into the hands of the Japs—for
a reason. Mary Astor is a spy—for a reason. Greenstreet is
the Japophile, cold, cruel and haughty, whose nerve leaves him
when he faces hari-kari.

Sizeup: A first-class effort in spite of a modest budget ap-
pearance. Bogart is Bogart but Greenstreet presents a varia-
tion of character from that of his previous role. The last part
of the picture is loaded with action and excitement. Oh yes,
Keye Luke is on hand as an Americanized Jap who serves

Nippon.
Columbia Shorts

ROAD TO TOKYO (“Canada Carries On” Series)
National Film Board
With the Jap pressing his luck these days, this short antici-
pates the turn of events and points the direction. It shows
Canada as a jumping off place for the invasion to come. It
brings the danger to our Pacific coast home to the audience. The
‘building of the Alaska highway is shown, as are the results of
the bombing of Tokyo. It’s interesting, instructive and arousing.
OLAF LAUGHS LAST
El Brendel is the sloppy sweetheart who wins his love by
kicking the pants off a kidnap mob and showing up his yellow-
streaked rival. Full of slapstick and funny.
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS
This issue of the series is unusually interesting, most of it
being devoted to old time films showing such stars of yesterday
as Mary Pickford, Betty Blythe, Charles Ray, Billie Dove, Norma
Talmadge, Mae Murray and a host of others. Ken Murray,
Janet Blair and Kay Harris are in it.

TTREMAN, SPARE MY TIRES
Harry Langdon in a laughy two-reeler about tire trouble.

to the film.

Esquire

IT HAPPENED TO ONE MAN

Payoff: Word-heavy English drama.

What Goes On:

Involvements with shareholders,

family

troubles and sweethearts by financiers.
Sizeup: Wilfred Lawson does a good job in the lead, aided

by Nora Swinburne.

Ontario Censor’s

Annual Report

&%

(Continued from Page 1)

Theatre Inspection Board made his
yearly summary for Premier
Mitchell Hepburn. The total com-
prised features, trailers, comedies,
news reels and items of a miscel-
laneous nature.

He praised the motion picture
industry. ‘Your Board,” the re-
port stated, “believes reference
should be made as to the manner
in which the motion picture in-
dustry measured up to its war-
time responsibilities insofar as the
provision of entertainment and the
furtherance of the cause of the
United Nations is concerned. Cha-
otic and ever-changing conditions
made it obviously difficult for the
industry to chart a normal course,
but the Board believes its efforts
in the interests of freedom-loving
peoples should meet with your ap-
proval.”

Mr. Silverthorne also pnaised
news reels as ‘‘a bond of contact
between families in this Dominion
and their fighting fathers and
sons.’”’ Russian films were acknow-
ledged to be “fine examples of
wartime entertainment, free from
anything of a politically offensive
charcter.”

Other information provided by
the report:

The number of 35mm. films sub-
mitted increased from 1,988 dur-
ing the 1940-41 period to 2,084.
Of the latter figure 84 were from

Great Britain, 18 from Canada
and 11 from various nations out-
side the USA, which provided the
rest.

The 548 16mm. films submitted
during 1941-41 represents an in-
crease of 112 over the previous
period. This year 509 were ap-
proved, 38 altered and 1 rejected.

The total number of deletions
from films was 858, a figure drawn
from every type of product.

There were 17 more theatres
in Ontario during the period and
alterations made on 25. Other
figures: theatre licenses, 417; pub-
lic hall licences, 2,392; projection-
ists, 803; apprentice projectionists,
192; miscellaneous, 103; travelling
shows, 123. Seven theatres were
prosecuted and eleven projection-
ists were suspended for various
infractions of theatre regulations.

There were 14 licensed exchang-
es in operation, an increase of two
over the previous year.

The Board examined 39,659 spe-
cimens of advertising and rejecte
49 entirely. @&

Mr. Silverthorne reported that
60 camps were provided with gra-
tis film entertainment through the
co-operation of the motion picture
committee with service bodies. He
noted also the high quality of Na-
tional Film Board shorts and point-
ed out their fine reception outside
the country.

July 2nd, 1942.

‘Road to Tokyo -
Crack NFB Short

Should Japan attempt invasion
of Canada, how would Canada
meet tactics that have proved suc-
cessful in the South Pacific and
Dutch East Indies?

To answer these and other ques-
tions like them which every Cana-
dian has asked himself since
Japan attacked Dutch Harbor, and
the Aleutians, the National Film
Board in co-operation with the Of-
fice of Public Information has
made “Road to- Tokyo,” June
issue of “Canada Carries On.”

For weeks past camera units
working for the National Film
Board have been on location from
coast to coast; in barracks, battle
training schools and army camps.
What these units have brought
back is the rousing first hand story
of Canada’s army and that part
of the North American front line
which it is her sole responsibility
to defend.

Military Districts from the Mari-
times to the Pacific have given
fullest co-operation and regiments
from all parts of the Dominion are
represented, from the Pacific coast,
the western prairies, Ontario, Que-
bec, the Maritimes and the Cana-
dian army overseas,

No phase of the new assault
training has been overlooked.
While much of the film was shot
on the Pacific Coast, crack Cana-
dian troops are also shown stand-
ing guard in the Northland, while
United States engineers rush work
on the Alaska Highway. Already
Japan has boasted she may use
the road for invasion of North
America, but as the film foresha-
dows, this great strategic highway
may one day prove the road to
Tokyo. Sequences show ski troops
of the Japanese army being train-
ed for invasion for invasion at-
tempt on Alaska.

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Canadian FILM WEEKLY

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a

SATURDAY NIGHT

(Mary Lowrey Ross, famed
fictioneer and film critic, writes
@ review in verse of Paramount’s
“Reap the Wild Wind.” After
telling of the twists and turns
and reporting the triumph of vir-
tue, she ends it up with what
follows below. De Mill’s saga
made an impression on the clev-
er gal, it seems.)

Thus the rewards of ill and good

Are meted out by Hollywood,

Which takes the just to the wild
wind’s reaping.

Thank Heaven for the law de
Milleian

Which seals the fate of every
villian,

And operating from above
Puts Virtue in the arms of Love.
Which disciplines the mean and
spite-eous

loads with favors all
righteous.
And liquidates each human weasel.
Thank Heaven for this, (and also

Cecil.)

CHICAGO SUN

(In an interview with George
Ade, famed author, by Debs
Myers)

Mr. Ade used to play a good
deal of golf. Since physicians have
made him quit, he finds relaxation
in attending movies, reading and
talking with old friends.

Ann Sheridan is his favorite
actress.

“There, ” he said,
for you.”

And the

‘is a woman

Heperted ce

PILOT OFFICER TED MARKS

Ted Marks, former manager
of the Marks Theatre, Oshawa,
Ontario, is reported missing
after operational flights over
the French coast.

TORONTO DAILY STAR

(A letter to the editor indi-
cates that Sunday war shows
may be the country’s coming
second-class controversy)

To the Editor of the Star.

Sir: In a recent statement in
the House of Commons regarding
the question of granting permis-
sion to United States war trucks
to enter Canada, the Hon. C. D.
Howe, Minister of Munitions and
Supply, mentioned that he was
more concerned with the conserva-
tion of rubber than the matter of
transportation. Being in the rub-
ber goods business myself I fully
realize the seriousness of the rub-
ber situation and the necessity for
conservation. It has occurred to
me that a considerable amount of
rubber and gasoline is consumed
‘unnecessarily in the Province of
Ontario by Sunday drivers of
automobiles. It is my opinion, and
the opinion of other members of
the Toronto Board of Trade, that
most of the Sunday driving is done
by people who have nothing else
to do. I definitely think, and many
business men agree with me, that
if the motion picture theatres and
ball parks in Ontario were open
on Sunday afternoons (as they are
in the Province of Quebec) a con-
siderable saving in the consump-
tion of rubber, gasoline and alco-
hol would be effected. I am of the
opinion that winning the war is
of more importance than subscrib-
ing to the religious prejudices of
a small but vociferous minority.
Great Britain and the United
States appear to be making quite
as good a war effort as we are and
they have no restrictions on rea-
sonable entertainment for the peo-
ple on Sunday afternoons.

T. W. NIBLETT

TIME MAGAZINE

(Germany is having product
trouble and must depend on a
subsidiary outfit)

Propaganda Minister Paul Jo-
seph Goebels used to intimidate
foreign statesmen by showing
them movies of the Polish blitz
and of the fall of France. Since
those outdated smash hits, he has
no wows to offer. Recently he had
to suffer the chagrin of going to
the Japanese Embassy to see their
supercolossal “Nippon’s Wild
Eagle,” showing the attack on
Pearl Harbor, the conquest of the
Philippines, Malaya, Borneo.

——————————eEEeEeeeEeEeEyEEEEEEEEE—E—EEEEL——E——E——XXX Ee

Page 5

New York

Alexander Nevsky—1939 Russian
film with English subtitles. Cher-
kassov, Orlov.

All This And Heaven Too—1940
tragic romance; Boyer & B. Davis.
Awful Truth — 1937 comedy; I.
Dunne, C. Grant.

Beethoven Concerto—1937 Russian
film with English subtitles.

Daybreak — 1940 French drama,
English subtitles; J. Gabin.

Duck Soup—1933
Bros.

Each Dawn I Die—1939 prison
melodrama; J. Cagney & G. Raft.

Great Victor Herbert—1939 mu-
sical; W. Connolly, M. Martin, A.
Jones.

Lives of a Bengal Lancer—1935
Adventure in India; G. Cooper &
F. Tone.

Long Voyage Home—1940 nautical
drama from four O’Neill plays. T.
Mitchell, I. Hunter, J. Wayne.

Of Human Bondage—1934 drama;
L. Howard & B. Davis.

Our Town—1940 drama from Wil-
der’s play; F. Craven, M. Scott.

Port of Shadows — 1939 French
drama; English subtitles; J. Ga-
bin, M. Simon, M. Morgan.

Virginia City—1940 western melo-

farce; Marx

drama; E. Flynn, R. Scott, M.
Hopkins.
Vivacious Lady — 1938 romantic

comedy; G. Rogers & J. Stewart.

CONTRACT
SALES

OFFICE

PHONE TR.1257
GT’ FLOOR

: TP Glge Tis

Page 6

ES VICARY of the Opera¢

House, Orillia, used a stencil of
Formby with picture and playdate.
These he used on the sidewalks in
public places.

The Red Cross in Orillia pre-
sented proficiency certificates to 39
people. Les Vicary snapped into
the groove, and had the presenta-
tion made from his stage, which
brought a flock of publicity.

= = =

ae PERLEY of the Kenwood,

Toronto, had cards handed out
on the street to couples, copy
reading, ‘“‘Dare you to hand this to
your loved one unopened.” Inside
material suggested a date to see
the feature.

Color Western
By Columbia

Columbia Pictures starts produc-
tion of “The Pioneers,” its first
Technicolor feature this week,
with a stellar cast headed by Ran-
dolph Scott, Glenn Ford, Claire
Trevor and Edgar Buchanan. Re-
garded as one of the most impor-
tant features on Columbia’s sche-
dule for next season, ‘‘The Pion-
eers” will mark the initial effort
. of Harry Joe Brown as a Columbia
producer. A dramatization of the
comedy and drama attendant to
settlement of America’s Great
Northwest, ‘‘The Pioneers” is an
adaptation from the last novel by
the late Courtney Riley Cooper.
Charles Vidor, responsible for last
season’s “Ladies In Retirement,”
will direct.

* * *

Dapper Adolphe Menjou was
this week signed to play Rita
Hayworth’s father, and starlets
Marguerite Chapman, Leslie
Brooks and Adele Mara were as-
signed roles as his other three La-
tin daughters in the Fred Astaire-
Rita Hayworth musical, tentative- !
ly titled, ‘“‘The Gay Senorita.” The
production, directed by William
Seiter, was known earlier as “Car-
nival In Rio.” Bandleader Xavier
Cugat will play a part in the pic-
ture as well as conduct his famous
orchestra in the half dozen num-
bers written by Jerome Kern and
Johnny Mercer.

a

* %

George Tobias today drew the
prize role of “Appopalous,” the
landlord-with-an-artist’s soul, in
Columbia’s picturization of the
Broadway stage hit, “My Sister
Eileen,” with Alexander Hall dir-
ecting. Also signed for Max Gor-
don’s production of the Rosalind
Russell-Brian Aherne comedy, is
Gordon Jones, who will portray
“The Wreck,” the role he created
in the stage production. ‘The
Wreck” is a former All-American
football star from Carnegie Tech,
down on his luck between profes-
sional games. Donald MacBride
joined the cast in the role of the
harried policeman. |

ross
on

CULL.

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

1-18" CONTRIBUTED BY
FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN

CANADIAN SHOWMEN

or is strictly independent.

who is

(XS EORGE McEWAN,

pinch-hitting for Charlie Smith,
the smiling manager of the Royal,
North Bay, now vacationing, made
up an attractive looking standee,
showing ‘“What’s New in_ the
News,” another standee showing
colored cartoons. These drew a
great deal of attention. He also
spotted 100 yellow arrows all over
town with copy reading “Follow
the yellow arrow to the Royal
theatre which is now playing (fea-
ture).”’ A street ballyhoo consisted|
of a pretty girl leading a horse
with a straw bonnet. Copy on the
hatband read “Hi (Gold Diggers,
there’s ‘Flowing Gold’ at the
Royal Theatre.” This of course
being the name of the feature.

> m *

OR a double horror show, Har-

land Rankin, of the Centre
Theatre, Chatham, darkened all
but the front of the house. At the
beginning of each feature two ush-
erettes with sheets over their
heads paraded down the aisles and
walked across the stage with a
lighted flashlight underneath the
sheet.

Celebrating Anniversary Week,
Harland has a band playing at the!
opening of each new feature. A
cooperative page in the newspaper
was also used to celebrate the
great event, with special mention
on the radio. Flags were used to
decorate the marquee, special front!
displays, and promoted gifts for
the children attending the theatre.
Special Wednesday night shows,

known as the “Hit and Run Par-|.

ade.” The Mayor opened the show
and presenting a bouquet of flow-
ers to the winner of “Opportunity
Nite” and also to “Miss Chath-
am.” The mayor then presented
the key to the ctiy to the manager
of the theatre.
a * Ms
N “No Greater Sin’ Joe Paul
of the Park, Welland, placed
window cards on the bulletin board
of every industrial plant in Wel-
land. An editorial with some very
interesting readers in the papers,
and an item about the Health
Leugue of Canada appeared on the
front page. Joe personally contact-
ed the officials of the large indus-
trial plants, military officials, pres-
idents of service clubs, the clergy
and everyone else from whom co-
operation could be expected. A
special matinee was run for the
shift workers.

Contributions to this column will be greatly appre-
ciated from any member of the motion picture industry,
from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations

Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film
Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont.

jess ALEXANDER of _ the

Brock, Toronto, gained much placed

July 2nd, 1942

B* way of novelty, Pete Harri-

son of the Capitol, Cobourg,
arranged with the leader of the
band at the park pavilion for
special plugs on “Honky Tonk”
and “Sergeant York.’ Window
cards etc. were well spotted around
town.

ne * =

N “Birth of the Blues” Fred

Thompson of the Rex. London,
had a window display in a down-
town store. In the lobby was a
very attractive record display by
the Heintzman music store. These
were the popular hits from the
picture. Appealing window cards
with black and white stills were
in vulnerable downtown

good will and publicity by playing} spots.

ball with the ball team in a man-
ner of speaking. A soft ball team
using a local park about a block
from Jack’s theatre, draws about
four or five hundred people for
each game. Jack donates a double
pass to the players that make a

‘home run. This is announced at
the beginning of the game and} Police,”

always gets a big hand. The the-
ater gets a good plug, and every-
body is happy.

* x

OR ‘‘New Wine” Preston Salter,
Community, Hamilton, called

on the neighborhood school, and
had the music teacher speak to
the pupils, encouraging them to
see “New Wine” for the good mu-
sic value.

* a Me

Ro BROWN of the Vanity,

‘Hatter's Castle’
In Toronto Bow

When a picture can break the
record of “North West Mounted
it’s a good picture. In
England, “Hatter’s Castle,’ the
film based on the A. J. Cronin book
of the same name, has done just
that.

Made in the Old Country under
the most hectic conditions, Para-
mount has a picture that will do
outstanding business. Featured in

the cast are Robert Newton, De-
borah Kerr, Emlyn Williams and
Enid Stamp-Taylor.

The story concerns a father
who rules his household with a
rod of iron and eventually drives

Windsor, placed a huge tiger|them all from him, repenting of
cutout in the lobby well in ad-j|his actions too late.

vance for ‘Jungle Book.’ He had
radio dramatization two weeks in
advance and a tieup with libraries
and book stores. Also a 24 sheet
mounted, shellacked and placed in
front of the theatre facing the
business section. It all helped
make an attractive campaign.

Re ne Me

ALPH TIEDE, Century, Tren-
ton, gave away small cards
with a very delicious all-day suck-
er attached, copy reading ‘For
the best comedy in town, see Hugh
Herbert in ‘Hello Sucker’ at the
Century, etc.” Cost of card was
shared by a local restaurant man,
who tied in with the copy.

we ne %

CONC ns say “ ‘Anything can
happen’ and does in ‘Shanghai
Gesture’ at the Marks theatre,
Oshawa.” This was a teaser ad put
out by Stewart Gillespie several
days in advance of the picture.

Me a *

Re BEREZIN, Elgin, Ottawa,

had a drawing contest, for
“Miss Annie Rooney” the best
drawing of Shirley Temple winning
a double pass to the theatre.

I

The part of Brodie, the father,
is finely played by Newton who
had leave of absence from _ the
Navy to do the picture. He was
last seen in “Major Barbara’
which vehicle also brought Debor-
ah Kerr to attention. Miss Kerr
started her professional career in
the Sadler Wells Ballet and grad-
uated to the Open Air Theatre at
Regent’s Park. Since appearing
for Gabriel Pascal, she was feat-
ured in ‘Love On the Dole” and
“Penn of Pennsylvania.” In be-
tween these two pictures, Miss
Kerr spent time in the Oxford Re-
pertory Company.

The opening of ‘“‘Hatter’s Castle”
in London was an event attended
by the Duchess of Kent and other
members of the State.

The North American Premiere
was held in Toronto on July ist
and national release will follow.

Complete Theatre Equipment
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COLEMAN

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Snips and Snaps...

Joan the Jitterbug

satay) ee Pesos Fee

Gew-Gaws

Nice Garment

: “Pretty Baubles,” Pat-
Joan Crawford and Allen Jenkins in Columbia’s “They ricla ses RE isan jos

All Kissed the Bride.” a scene from MGM’s mystery
drama, “Grand Central Murder,”
in which the popular Van Heflin
is starred.

What's Ccokin’?

Hooded coats for summer are a
style note adopted by Diana Barry-
more, feminine headliner of Uni-
versal’s “Eagle Squadron,’ who
compliments her smartly tailored
white gabardine skirt and red,
double “V”-trimmed white boucle
sweater with a stunning hooded
ereatcoat of white wool.

Frances Dee as William Hol-
den’s new bride in Columbia’s
“Meet the Stewarts.”

Deborah Kerr and Emlyn Williams as they appear in Para-
mount’s “Hatter’s Castle.” Robert Newton heads the cast. It’s
based on A. J. Cronin’s popular novel.

=a UNS CS
Wy

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